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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Locations from alicatsrocks.com

Locations listed at alicatsrocks.com

Licking Creek, OH
Creek is between Newark and Zanesville.
Galena

Monroeville OH
South of Sandusky Ohio. At the intersection of Rte. 20 and Rte. 99.
Pyrite balls

Monroeville, OH
2 miles north of town.
Aragonite, Baryte, Botryogen, Calcite, Copiapite

Wellston, OH
Numerous coal mines near town.
Pyrite

Articles from www.vasichkominerals.com

I found the following articles from the Ohio Mineral Collector on www.vasichkominerals.com.
Site author is Joe Vasichko from Wooster Ohio. Well worth the read.

Ohio Rockhound
Articles for the Ohio Mineral Collector

Collecting Wurtzite Crystals, Negley, Ohio

Mineralization of Geodized Brachiopods,
Georgetown, Ohio

Mineral Habits of the C.E. Duff and
Son Inc. Quarry

Gypsum var. Selenite Crystals from
Ellsworth, Ohio

Septarian Minerals of the Huron River near
Lamereaux Road Bridge, Monroeville, Ohio

Map of Septarian Minerals of the Huron River near Lamereaux Road Bridge, Monroeville, Ohio

Mineral Collecting in Ohio

Online Resources
Factiods from DRC 2.0 Data:
  • 2115 mines listed for Ohio
  • 33 Mine entries listed for Galena
  • 46 mine entries listed for Celestite
  • 90 mines listed for Gold

Monday, November 24, 2008

My favorite Mineral Databases

Here is a list of my favorite online databases.

Mindat.org is the largest mineral database and mineralogical reference website.

WebMineral.com
is a complete, up-to-date, mineral database containing 4442 mineral species descriptions and comprehensive picture library of images.

Athena is a Alphabetical list of minerals with formula and system.

Geologynet Online Geology Search Engine

www.mineralatlas.com is a database provides information about mineralogy and is dedicated to providing access to physical and chemical data, photos, electron microscopy images, images of thin sections and analytical data such as Mineral Vibrational Spectra in the near-, far- and mid- infrared regions of the spectrum, infrared emission spectra and Raman spectra of minerals.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection Slide Show

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>Image Slide Show: Displays all mineral specimen photos

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection Search

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>Search

Showing an example of finding all Rockbridgeite specimens from New Jersey USA

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection List

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>Browse - List: Filterable and sortable list of all specimens in the mineral collection database.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection Treeview

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection - Images Tab

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>TreeView: Display collection organized by Species

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection - Images Tab

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>Browse - Images Tab _Displays all images associated with specimen.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection - Reports Tab

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>Browse - Reports Tab: Summary reports that can be run on the mineral collection database.



Species List


Summary by Year

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection - Additional Tab

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>Browse - Additional Tab: Shows associated species on specimen.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Collection

Databases Menu
>>Mineral Collection
>>>>Browse - Main tab of Mineral Collection Screen

Screen Shot Slide Show of DRC 4.0

Here is a slide show of DRC 4.0 screen shots

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Search Minerals

Here is an example showing searching for all minerals that are:
Color= Blue, Luster=Adamantine and have a tetragonal crystal

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Search

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Data References

Databases Menu
>>Minerals
>>>>References - Show references for the mine data in DRC.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mineral Image Slide Show

See all the mining images you may have associated with mines in DRC in one convienant place.
Databases Menu
>>Minerals
>> SlideShow

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals Periodic Table Search

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Periodic Table Search: Find mineral species using chemical compositions.

This is alot of fun.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals List

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>List - Images tab: Filterable and sortable list of all mineral species in DRC.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Associated Species - Images Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Associated Species Tab: Displays commonly occurring minerals based on mineral occurrences reported by the mine locations for the mineral and from associations based on your personal collection.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - Specimen Images Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Specimen Images tab: Displays any specimen images for this mineral species.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - Names Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Names tab: Shows variety and alias names for the mineral species.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - Images Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Images tab: Displays any images for this mineral species you have downloaded.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - Specimen Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse -Specimen tab - Displays your mineral specimens for this mineral species.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - Locations Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Locations tab - Shows mine locations (from DRC) that report occurance of the mineral species.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - ReferenceTab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Reference Tab: Shows data bibliography

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - Additional Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Additional Data tab - Shows optical and crystal cell size data

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Minerals - Main Tab

Databases
>>Minerals
>>>>Browse - Main tab for a record in Minerals database.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mine Image Slide Show

See all the mining images you may have associated with mines in DRC in one convienant place.
Databases Menu
>>Mines
>> SlideShow

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Nearby Mines Tab

This is the Nearby Mines tab for the Mine Screen, which lists all of the nearby mines close this mine.

>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Mine Images Tab

This is the Mine Imagestab for the Mine Screen, showing all of the images you have associated with this mine.
>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Specimens Tab

This is the Specimens tab for the Mine Screen, all of the mineral specimens in your collection cross referencing this mine.
>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Geology Tab

This is the Geology tab for the Mine Screen, showing site geology for the mine.
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Ore Deposits Tab

This is the Ore Deposits tab for the Mine Screen, showing ore deposits classification for the mine.
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Mining Info Tab

This is the Mining Info tab for the Mine Screen, showing activity history for the selected mine.
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Lat/Long Tab

This is the Lat/Long tab for the Mine Screen, showing location coordinates and map references for the mine
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines - Main Tab

This is the Main tab for the Mine Screen.
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Mines in TreeView (And then double-click on an mine lists.)
or
Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines (And then double-click on an mine in the search results.)

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Search Mines

Here is an example showing searching for all mines in South Dakota where Spodumene has been reported to ocurr.

Databases
>>Mines
>>>>Search Mines

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mine Data References

Databases Menu
>>Mines
>>>>References - Show references for the mine data in DRC.

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Mines listed in Tree View

Databases Menu
>>Mines
>>>>Browse in Treeview

Saturday, November 15, 2008

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Collecting Locations

Databases Menu
>>Collecting Locations
>>>> Browse - Opens to first record in Collecting Locations database.


See the Minerals listed to occur at this location.



Databases Menu
>>Collecting Locations - Opens a selectable list of records in Collecting Locations database.

DRC 2.0 Wallk Through: Books Database

Databases Menu
>>Books
>>>> Browse - Opens to first record in Books database

Databases Menu
>>Books
>>>> List - Opens a selectable list of records in Books database

Databases Menu
>>Books
>>>>Search - Search online publication database at ISBN.COM

DRC 2.0 Walk Through: Main Screen

This is the main application window.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

DRC Jewel Case Art

Front


Back

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

System Requirements

  • Pentium-II 400 MHz or faster CPU.
  • 500 megabytes of RAM
  • 1.1 GB of free hard drive space
  • 40+x speed CD-ROM or DVD drive
  • Windows XP or Vista

Features of Digital Rockhound's Companion

The Digital Rockhound's Companion 2.0 is a database application that is the compilation of a lifetime's interest in rock hounding. I designed this application for my personal use and I actively use the application to maintain my mineral collection.

The focus of the application is provide location information for mineral collecting sites and mines and cross-reference against reported mineral occurrences and also against specimens in your mineral collection. Having more specific information about a mineral location adds interest and value to a specimen.

and now blog your mineral collection on Blogger!

Databases include:
  • Mining database with over 400,000 locations for North America and the world
  • Mineralogy database with over 3800 species.
  • Geographic Place Names database for the United states
  • Mineral Collection database allowing you to store your personal collection.
  • Search minerals from the Periodic Table.
  • Links to Online Mineral databases like Athena, Mindat, and WebMineral.
Add/ModifyData:
  • Add your own mineral occurrences to mining locations.
  • Add online URL links to online mine resources.
  • Add your personal mineral collecting locations.
  • Add Images to mineral specimen data.
  • Find and organize mineral images from the Internet
  • Find and download mine Images from Google.com.
Manage your Personal Mineral Collection:
  • Mineral collection catalog to organize your collection. Screen
  • Print labels and index report for your mineral specimens.
  • Manage the location where specimens are stored.
  • Catalog your Mineralogical Record and Rock and Mineral Magazine collections.
Digital Mapping:
  • Includes digital street maps for all of the United States circa 1995.
  • Create digital street maps of mine locations.
  • Display mine locations on Google Maps and Terra Server. 
Blog using Blogger:
  • Integrated Blogger publisher.
  • Post your Mineral Collection to Blogger blog
  • Post your favorite mine to your Blogger blog
  • Post your  mine search to your Blogger blog
  • Post your  mineral search to your Blogger blog
  • Post your  place name search to your Blogger blog

    Thursday, November 6, 2008

    Digital Rockhound Companion Updates

    Current version of Digital Rockhound's Companion is 2.0.30

    Revision History:
    • Build 2.0.30  Bug Fix /Enhancement 2010-02-10
    • Build 2.0.29  Bug Fix /Enhancement 2010-02-10
    • Build 2.028 Enhancement 2009-12-20
    • Build 2.0.27 Bug Fix /Enhancement 2009-12-02
    • Build 2.0.26 Bug Fix 2009-11-21
    • Build 2.025 Bug Fix 2009-11-5
    • Build 2.024 Enhancement 2009-10-17
    • Build 2.023 Bug Fix 2009-09-12
    • Build 2.022a Bug Fix 2009-09-06
    • Build 2.022 Bug Fix 2009-08-31
    • Build 2.021 Enhancement 2009-07-24
    • Build 2.020 Enhancement 2009-06-23
    • Build 2.019 Bug Fix 2009-06-20
    • Build 2.018 Bug Fix 2009-06-11
    • Build 2.017 Bug Fix 2009-05-24
    • Build 2.016.Enhancement 2009-05-23
    • Build 2.015 Bug Fix 2009-05-22
    • Build 2.014 Bug Fix 2009-04-16
    • Build 2.012 Bug Fix: 2009-04-11
    • Build 2.0.11 Enhancement: 2009-04-05
    • Build 2.0.10 Bug Fix: 2009-03-10
    • Build 2.0.9 Enhancement: 2009-03-09
    • Build 2.0.8 Bug Fix : 2009-03-08
    • Build 2.0.7: Bug Fix : 2009-03-06
    • Build 2.0.6: Bug Fixes : 2009-02-28
    • Build 2.0.5: Enhancement : 2009-01-03
    • Build 2.0.4: Bug Fixes : 2009-01-03
    • Build 2.0.3: Bug Fixes : 2009-01-03
    • Build 2.0.2: Bug Fixes: 2008-12-27
    • Build 2.0.1: Bug Fixes and Integrated Update feature: 2008-12-06
    • Build 2.0.0 Initial Release of 2.0: 2008-11-01
    Bug Fixes, new and enhanced Features:

    Build 2.0.30

       DRC    
         Bug:
         Mouse cursor: hourglass disappearing before form is opened.

         * Mine Search
            - Added Deposit Type search parameter
            - Change Commodity search parameter to be a dropdown list
            - Changed Commodity Modifier search parameter to be a dropdown list
         
       Added PrintList button to:
           - Book List
           - Location List
           - Fossil List
           - Mine Search
           - Mineral List
           - Mineral Search
           - Periodic Table Search
           - Mineral Collection Search
          -  Mineral Collection List
          -  Digital Map Layer List
          -  Place Name Search
          -  Storage Location List
      
       Data Update:
         Mineralogical Record
           - Updated index and cover images up to Q1 2010.

    Build 2.0.29

      Enhancements
        DRC
         * Improved Mineral Search
             - Added dropdown list for Cleavage values
             - Added dropdown list for Fracture values
             - Added dropdown list for crystal habit values
             - Added Country/State/County parameters to search to produce list of mineral species found at selected region.
         * Replaced existing webbrowser control based on  IE with newer control supported by the .net Framework.
             - Google cutting IE 6.0 support March 1, 2010.
         * ImageImport Tool
             - Added button to delete all selected images from temporary cache       
         * Digital Map Layers
            - Replaced mapping control with newer control written in C# .netframework 2.0
        * DRC to Blogger interface
           - Added View Data to list export.  Allows you to remove rows before export.
           - Changed button icons and added tooltip text
           - Added multiple select list of existing tags so user can add tags when creating a blog post        

       Bug Fixes
        * DRC to Blogger interface 
            - Fixed bug prevented blog entries from being updated after being cached locally.
            - Fixed bug that could cause google login to be very slow.
        DRC
          - Corrected messages in status bar to properly reflect actions while searching.
          * ImageImport Tool
            - Fixed File delete from temporary image cache

    Build 2.028
    • Replaced Data Combo box on Collecting Locations and Mineral Collection screens so the auto-complete feature works smoother.
    • Rearranged Collecting Locations screen to make it more visually appealing.

    Build 2.027
    • Bug Fix: Error 730 when opening Mine Search.
    • Bug Fix: Fixed bug in Dropdown list auto-complete on Collection Search, Mine Search, Mineral Search, and Place Search screens.
    • Bug Fix: Fixed bug in Collecting searching ignoring not clearing results after each search.
    • Enhancement: Replace Bulk Image capture with new screen.
    Build 2.026
    • Bug Fix: Fixed Place Search lookup on Mine form
    • Bug Fix: Fixed error 438 on Digital Map button from Mine Search Screen.

    Build 2.025
    • Bug Fix: Full Installation failing to upgrade the database properly.
    • Enhancement: Replaced Data Combo box on several search screens that use proper auto-complete while typing or selecting values.

    Build 2.024

    • Major Enhancement - Added ability to blog data and photos from DRC 2.0 to a Blogger blog using Google Account.
    • Bug Fix: Updater, blogger no longer providing contentlength 100% of the time when downloading a webpage.

    Build 2.023
    • Bug Fix: Corrected an error in DRC Updater (caused by change at Windows Live site) that prevented the update from being downloaded.

    Build 2.022a
    • Bug Fix: error in installer that caused runtime error 429 object not found when installed on a workstation for the first time. DRC version remains at 2.022. Installer change only

    Build 2.022
    • Bug Fix: Added back user prompt to exit and install update after download is complete.

    Build 2.021
    • Enhancement: Improved Updater added.

    Build 2.020
    • BugFix: Errors linking tbDeposits and tbGeology tables for Mine Summary report
    • Enhancements: Ability to delete images from image cache and unassigned Images.

    Build 2.019
    • Enhancement: Added reports support to Mines Form and added Mine Summary report.
    Build 2.018

    • BugFix: Filtering image files only to import into pic\cache folders
    • Enhancement: Added Delete warning to delete button on frmFossils

    Build 2.017

    • BugFix: Fixed Fossil menu issue on Windows 2000

    Build 2.016

    • Enhancement: Fully intregrated new Fossil collection database into DRC including basic data entry, adding/importing images, label printing, custom list creation, and storage locations for fossils.

    Build 2.015
    • Fixed bug that prevented images from being imported.
    • Enhancement: Added Fossil Specimen database.
    Build 2.014
    • Fixed Another annoying syntax error when saving mineral specimen.
    Build 2.0.13
    • Fixed annoying syntax error when saving mineral specimen.
    Build 2.0.12
    • Reworked Online Updates to support change in SkyDrive user policy, nolonger supporting direct static links to files.

    Build 2.0.11
    • Added Right-click menu option to Maximize and RestoreSize to forms, so the UI experience is better.
    • Fixed bug causing CPU usgae to spike when closing application if form windows are maxizimed.
    • Improved the DRC Download latest update process to automatically close DRC and launch the update.
    • Added URL link to SkyDrive Folder home of DRC Updates.

    Build 2.0.10
    • Fixed tbMineral_Alias and tbMineral_Varities in tbMinerls.mde to allow zero length strings in color and description fields.
    Build 2.0.9
    • Enhancement - Opens folder where DRC_UPDATE.EXE is located when download is complete.

    Build 2.0.8

    • Fixed Error on Mine Search, invalid sql after selecting State value from Dropdown combobox.

    Build 2.0.7
    • Fixed Error 3021 recordset BOF EOF when opening an empty custom list
    Build 2.0.6
    • Fixed error causing invalid use of null error when saving first custom list.
    • Fixed one error condition that was leading to error message operation cancelled when browsing the mineral collection database record to record using arrow (VCR) buttons.
    Build 2.0.5
    • Added Get Latest Update option under Help Menu. Also opens explorer to location where Update file was downloaded to.
    Build 2.0.4
    • Label object and help buttons become misaligned when the Map Builder form is resized to be taller.

    Build 2.0.3
    • Duplicate Index error when saving mine search results to custom list if mine alias names are displayed in the search results.
    Build 2.0.2
    • Cannot add available map layer to a new or an existing digital map
    • Incorrect version of Application displayed in lower left status bar panel.
    Build 2.0.1
    • Added Check for Updates to Application
    • Auto-complete for data bound dropdown lists not working as intended.

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